Should I master out to move to my partner
I’m in my second year of PhD (direct entry) in my dream pharmacology program in Canada - and have been in a long distance relationship for over 2 years due to my choice to move away for school.
We’ve been together 4 years and he’s been the most supportive partner who got me through the long and stressful days of a PhD, especially during COVID (you know how it goes). The thing is he’s got an amazing semi permanent job in the US and I’ve got 4 more years to go. We both agree 4 more years of LD is not possible.
He’s got a great career path and I simply cannot ask him to quit and move to me. I’m also in my dream program that was very hard to get in and let’s me save a year for being direct entry. On top of that I also live close to my family. I’ve thought many times of quitting and reapplying to PhD in the US to be with him - he’s truly a gem and I don’t want to lose him.
What should I do? Do I master out and reapply for PhD in the US (North Carolina) or stick to it and finish my program here?
I’m scared of missing out on a great learning opportunity and also having to reapply. I’m not sure if it’s hard to get into a US PhD program, but also don’t want to lose “the one”. I’m torn between my choices.
Truly appreciate any advice or any similar experience.
EDIT: we lived together for 5 months while I worked from home during COVID and that’s when we decided we are fully compatible and can move in together as soon as we reunite.
He’s in engineering management. He’s thought about coming to Canada for MBA, but as soon as he brought that up to his boss they gave him a promotion that required him to stay at least 2 years and he took it (after discussing with me), both knowing it was a great opportunity for his career too.
We have many discussions about this but we are both quite ambitious and scared about giving up what we’ve worked hard for (I’m 24 and he’s 30) so every convo ends with let’s give it another few months and see how it goes.
Thank you all so much for your wisdom and honest advice! They give me a lot to think about. Thankful for such a supportive PhD community.